Mining apparatus



June 3, 1930. l F. E. VAN sLYKE 1,761,060

' MINING APPARATUS' l Filed oct. ze, 1921 s sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNEV A June 3, 1930.

E. E. VAN sLYKE MINING APPARATUS Filedfoct. 26, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 91 I mill-UM! ULL H i A1A' Y Ml H H H 1ML ,WK M

June 3", 1930. F, E. VAN SLYKE 1,761,060

MINING APPARATUS Filed oct. 2s, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented `lune 3, 193()V y g figurati aannemen .VAN smrirn7 orL COLUMBUS,

. riscrunme scrinium,. or-` COLUMBUS, Oman CORPORATION OF OHIO untrue .ArrAnATus applicati@ aieafoctobe as, y1921. serian fue. 510,45).

The present Vinvention relatesto 'certain` new and useful improvements in mining apparatus, longitudinally 1 expansible ,postadapted to i Fiorcibly engage A further object`istoprovide a post of the class described associated With power 15 actuated means for. its bodily ymovement relative to the material y'to be mined and for its adjustment in operative position.V

i A further object is toprovide a SySemlot devices of the .class describedf'adapted'td.

Working tace for.

follow the recession'ot the the protection of thematerial dislodging de-l vices andthe maintenance yoit Working conf` ditions .during theoperatiori oithe'mine.`

rlhese and other objects Will be 'ullyset 'orth in the following speciiications refer;

ence being'had tO the accompanying dravvlings of which j Fig. 1 is a side. elevation .of the primary unit of my system oi'f 'niine posts, arranged 3o devices.

Fig..2 is aplanv ievvoi1r the devices illustrated in Fig. 1.'l i

Fig. 3 is a'rear elevatiorroli the devices illusi whereinthe axle ]our nal boxes 10 are vertilv Fig. 4 is afsectional view;takenalongthe" trated in Figs. 1 and 2.

line lVefIV'o Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is pump by'which lcertain of.. the 'p'artsare actuated. Q "j Y Figg is a sectional vieyvfoil the devicesby `Whichjthe 'hydraulic devices lare controlled. J Fig?? Vis .aside elevation of the secondary unit of my system of mine posts, adaptedto the support of theV niine'roof. :Fig: 8 is a planviewof the trated in Fig. 7. .j Figs.' 9- and10 are detailsoffthe propelling mechanism by which` :my improved mine and 'has Vfor its especial object af the floor and roof of a mine. chamberto Vsupport material dislodging de- .cylinder 1, in the manner vvel'l understoodjby' to position andx support the coal dislodging j f i the plungerj'through the'tubein amfanner a sectional view of the hydraulic brackets and bearing j ournal `boxes 10, vtransfer the Weight of the ibase plate' 2, y nd the parts mountedthereon, i' When the plung'ggerf3`jis-`^ f devices illus-1 /postsmay be bodily moved overifthe'oor `of theInine'ifrom'one operative position to" V anoth'er.' v

. Fig. 11 isa diagrammaticplan viewdf'af'- miney chamber illustrating the` vrmethod of Operating the vdevices yof this invention.

,several figures.

I nthe drawingsthenumeral1 refers to substantially perpendicular cylinder to the f `bottom of which is attached Vabroadly?exV panded base .plate k2 adapted to 'engagethe floor of the mine and to afo'rd abroad bearl 'ing thereon. Fittingjin tlienylinde'r '.1'is aj f plungerffadapted to be moved upwardly when the Water is forced' into the lowerfpor-.f' tion 'of thev cylinder, and lto fall byfits own i Weight 'as the Water is'yvithdravvn therefrom. 'A suitable gland 4' having anela'sticpacking' 5 is provided to confinet'the Water 1 in the persons sk illedinthe hydraulic art. Screw r threaded tothe upper portion oftheplunger 3 is an extensionffhavinga vlaterally 'eX- ,panded head 7 adaptedto engage the'roof offv the mine and to .aliord a broadbearing there? With. 'By the adjustment of the extensioni relative tothe plungerthe devicefmay be adaptedto usefin minesfhavingawide range yof vertical dimensions. Water `may' bead! lmitted to the cylinderl for rthe'actuationot Sc v.to be more fully hereinafter set forth. i Attached tothe Vbasep'late 2 are upstandel ingpedestal brackets y9 having guide Ways vcally slideable. Journaled 'in the boxes 10.

'are the aXles'11and`12 to'vvhich are:attached:- .v i i the ground engaging Wheels .13. Compresy sion springs 14, positioned Within thepedestal i upon the tops Yof. the

2to Contact Wit-h the mineiioor-7 thereby r'ef lieving the \vheels and' axles of the excessive i *strainV caused bythe pressure upon the lpost i When` the" yfvvhen in operativeV position.

Lilenumeralsrefer to s imilarparts'injthe i feo plunger 3 is again withdrawn into the cylinder l, the springs 14 will automatically lift the bed plate 2 clear of the floor to allow free Amovement of the machine from one operative position to another.

'Y Means to rotate the wheels 13, to move the machine over the mine lloor, is provided in the cylinder 15 which is pivotally supported upon the axle 12 by the lugs 16. Reciprocable in the cylinder 15 is a. plunger be moved outwardly by the pressure of the Water on the piston head 18, and to be move-d inwardly by the pressure of the spring 19 upon the piston. Vater for the actuation of the plunger 17 may be admitted to and withdrawn from the cylinder 15 through the tube 20 as will be more fully described. Formed on the projecting end of the plunger 17 is a rack 21 arranged to engage with the spur pinion 22 which is rotatable on the axle 11. rlhe rack V21 Ais held in contact with the pinion 22 by a roller 23 carried by the yoke 24 which is rotatable about the axle 11, and when the rack is moved in either direction the pinion will vbe rotated thereby. The pinion 22 is formed integral with the driving member 25 of a roller ratchet clutch of well known design, the driven member 26 of which is keyed to the axle 11. A plurality of rollers 27, interposed between the opposing faces of the clutchmembers 25 and 26 serve to operatively connect these members together to drive the axle 11 when theplunger 17 moves outwardly,

andrreleases such connection to permitthe. v free rotation of the pinion 22 as the plunger.

17 moves in the reverse direction.

The construction above described isadapted to position and support any preferred type of mining apparatus, and afford a stable abutment against which such apparatus may react. For the purposes of illustration l haveshown, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a mining apparatus comprising a cylinder 28 fitted with a longitudinally reciprocanect'ed,Av with the source of supply as will here-V -be supplied to either end ble plunger 29 to the projecting end of which is attached a wedge 30 adapted to be forced into the body of the vein to split off fragments therefrom. The customary packing gland 31 with its elastic packing 32, is provided to prevent the escape of water along the sides of theV plunger, and said plunger is provided with a piston head 33 adapted to be acted upon by the water in either end of the cylinder to move the plunger in either direction. TWater may of the cylinder 28 through the tubes 34 and 35 which are coninafter appeal'. l

Projectinglaterally from the cylinder 1 is a stud A36 whichextends through an aperture in the flange 37 formed on the cylinder 28, to pivotally support the coal splitting rain for rotary Aa'djustment'in a vertical plane. A nut 38 screw threaded to the stud 36, serves toV retain the parts in operative relation.

17 adapted to Y 4() is of the non-overhauling type theram will be securely locked thereby in the desired position ,of angular adjustment.

To Vprovide water connections of sufficient flexibilityto permit the angular adjustment of the cylinder 28 the tubes 34 and 35 are provided with the flexible joints comprising two pairs of discs 44, 45 and 46, 47 which are rotatably mounted upon the stud 36 and are held in forced contact by the nuts 48 and 49 respectively. The discs 44 and 46 are attached respectively to the tubes 34 and 35 connected to the cylinder 28, and the discs 45 and 47 are attached to the ends of the tubes 50 and 51 which extend to the source of water supply. On the abutting surfaces of the discs are formed annular grooves 52 which register with the corresponding grooves of the con;- panion discs, and these grooves 'are connected through passages formed in the bodies of the discs, with the tubes connected with their respective discs, thereby maintaining operative connection between the tubes 34 and and 35 and51 in all positions of angular adjustment. v Y

Attached to the base plate 2 is a motor 53 which may be of any preferred type suitable to the conditions under which the machine is to be operated. For the purpose of illustrationl have shown anv electric motor adapte-d to receive its actuating current from any convenient source of electric supply through a suitable flexible conduct-or cable 53l in the manner common in mining practice. A suitable controller l54 is arranged to control the flow of electricity through the motor. Attached to the armature shaft of the motor is a pinion 55 which meshes with a spur gear 56 attached to the countershaft 57. The shaft 57 is ournaledvin bearings 58 formed on the casing of the motor 53.

Mounted upon the base plate 2 is a pump 59, the plunger' 60 of which is connected by the connecting rod 61 with the' eccentric 62 ati tached to the countershaft 57. Valves 63 and 64 are `provided for the control of the low of water through Vthe pump, the suction valve 63 being `connected with the supply tank tending passages 69 and 7 0. The supply passage 69 isconnected with the tube 68 extending from the pump, and the discharge passage 70 is connected-bythe tube 71 ywith the supply tank 65. Alby-passwhichincludes the back pressure valve 2"`c n'nects"theA passages 69 and 70 together-and--afords a safe circuit means of 'suitable lfittings, andthes'e valves arecOnneCted-With the various hydraulic dey vices yof"the-machinetocontrol the admission der 79 in which islongitudinallymovable aplungerSO'o such dimensions thatr it coml vupper-mosttp'osition to registerwith theport.V

of water thereto-,or thefrelease ofiwater therefrom.'y As these Avalvesare'alike-a descripf tion of one will-apply to-fall. Y Y Attached toja supportingbase 78 is a cylinpletely ills the cylinder. Formed inthe plunger `-80 is 'a circumferential groove 81 vadapted,'wht-Qn the Vplunger 80iis in its eXtreme 82 -which communicates-with thefsupply pas'- sage- 69v of the manifold,` and when the plunger f is -in itsextreme lowermost position toregister Vwithk therfport, 83 which communi- Cates, with Vthe discharge. .passage 7,0 0i the mani-fold., VFormed Vinthe wallet the cylinder-79 is a passage 84' adapted t-o register with t-he groove 81 when the plunger is in either of its extremeuppe'r orlower positions, and this passage'is-V connected vwithone 'of the tubes which leadsto-.the'fvaious hydraulic devices ofY the. machine. i

The valves-74 -and 7 5 `are connected bythe! tubes 50 'andzlfwith theccylinder 28. VThese valves are arrangedat vopposite sides of' the` manifold-67,*and are provided-with a commonoperative Vlever 85 lso arranged that whengthe plunger vof thefvalve-fll'is'moved.

upward, `to admitwater to the rear end of the cylinder 28, the plunger, ofthe valve v7 fwill befmoved downward to y-allowqthe escape of water fremlthe--orwa'rd end of the cylinder. y By-alterna'te upward-*and'downward move-f ment of thejleve'r85 the plungers ofthe valves 7 4in1/1d 75 may be o-pposv'itely ymoved" to cause the vplunger 29 to Vb'e thrust outwardly" against thegcoal tof break 'off `fragments' therefrom, or to c ause the said plungerto bewithdrawn into the cylinder to .permitits adjustment preparatory .to another thrust.l

The valve 73isfconnec'ted-'with the-tube A20v whichextends t6 the'aXle driving cylinder-'15,"-

the'val've y'7' disconnected with the tube y8 of Vthe vertical cylinder lfaiidf the valve'v77 is.l f connected with aftu'befSGfto the end lofuwliich' is iittted afqu'ickfacting j hosec'oiipllingf 87 for;

a purpose which' will hereinaitervjappear; These valves fare.' provided `withl operating vto theha-nd of rthe operator. By-the manipulationof thesev valves watermaybe admitted tothe respective cylinders, conlined in :'sa'idf n Y 'f latedk tog' permit` theplunger 3; of the secondcyli/ nd'e'r orperinitted to return therefrom tol "wn-one gof l the secondar-y units ofl :improved fmi'ne,"fposts,k i

`which is reduced-#toits lfsimplestform fand fis `adapted tosupporttheminefroof'fon'thefprofftection ofthe :working conditions in' the imme- `diate proxi'mity vwithr the working face; IAS

liere shown thetubes 8aandf20'fthrou'gh'which Water isj supplied tothe vxcylinders la and 15a,

are provided with' quick yacting-hose'couplings* vSS-ada'pted :to engagesimilfa'r couplings ona l lflexible'h'o'se -pipe' 89= on'e endy offrwhichfis conthis arrangement either of the cylinders .2F19 ror l5l may be: `connected to'the vvalve -17 7 on the. manifold 67 for the admission and E'control of water to said cylinders. An auxiliaryivalve is provided to. preventthefeseap'e ofvwater Afrom. y y inerg ii there is .Show-rifa yiiigvini-mit.

ing operation illustratingTtheme'thodftfoperation-of `thedevicesifof thi NYii'rention; As

maybe oic any:preferredtype,fextends parallel receive aindremove l 'coalfas itfis "broken down.

Aprimaryrunit A',?supporting dsledging 'Y mechanism such as ifsfabove'describedfisarran'gedrtotravelparallel -'With said cnve'yor l :in suitable relation l tlniereto,fandl faffpluraity 1 ranged-'to travelf-,perpeii'dicularly'tcwardsthe coal face, and 'are suitablyspac'ed to support ,the ini'neroo'f. 1`

'icofr f Attach-tyd@ este@spannen-fsfanreis-' lodging mechanism'zthegprimary unitx #Afm is j y advanced i for 'f POSfiOII in suitable `rjelfiti@if fwit'h the 'secondary "C031 yface --92 n and ,clamped in place fby''t'he vertical movement .ofthe-'plunger '3. *After thei'coal' dislogdging f 'Y ramj has' dislodgedall ofthe coal -jvvithin" its reach,` the lvalve 76 is "manipulated" lto pnfrnitjV thepiunge'r''to Withdraw intothe'(':ylinder`jKV Y 11, andthe springs 14:A to lift the base Vplate@ l* r then *actuated'ftoicaiise rotation: V61E 5 the. i i ground -engag1ng`-wheelsf 1K3 thereby 'a'dvn'c-f ing'fthe mahiney to fafnew operativel position; f

Afilo AThe.; plunger f8 fis'fthen again, 'force'd1'upwgd v lyf-to Yclamp the 'machine' 'fin -pla'ce ready for ,theiactuationofthecoal 'dislodging raint f As' the breaking ido'wn-Inf'e'chanisin vproceeds moved towards thegcoallfacefa` distanceY 'cofrresponding with the 'increment ofadvanceof i fthe coal "ceig ,Y Asfthe'-A v`rima'r VF"n`t'f"-A handles allof which are disposed convenient 5 a p y u 1 'fijzo f acrossfthe'mine chamber, thesecqndary 'units ary unit C towithdraw into itscylinder 1a.

The springs 14 will then lift the bed plate 2 clear of the floor. The hose 89 will then be transferred to the tube `2Oa and the valve 77 V again manipulated to actuate the plunger 17 tovrotate the Wheels 13 thereby advancing the secondary'unit C towards the Vcoal face. After such any advance the -hese 89 will be transferred to the tube 8 the valve 77 again manipulated to force the plunger 3 into con- `tact with the mine roof, and the auxiliary post, means to move said ,extension relative to the post to exert pressure upon the mine roof, automatically acting means associated Y with the truck tending to lift said post from themine floor as the pressure upon the roof is reduced, and 'means to propel said truck overthe floor of the mine.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a wheeled truck adapted to travel-over the'floor of the mine, a vertically disposed postcarried by said truck and adapted to contact with the mine floor, a roof engaging extension connected with said post, means to move said extension relative tosaid post tol exert pressure upon the mine roof, automatically acting means asso lc'iated with the truck 'tending to lift said post from the mine floor astlie pressure upon the roof is'reduced, means to propel said truck overV the mine floor, and power devices upon the truck for the actuation of the extension moving devices and the truck` propelling devices. v f

l3; In an apparatus ofthe class described,

Vthe combination with a floor engaging base, a

, duced,

`wheeled .support therefor adapted to travel over the `mine floor, means to propel said support, a vertically extending guide mounted upon said base, a member `movable longitudinally of said guide,a roof engaging head adjustablyv connected to said vmovable ymember, fmeeans to movesaid movable member alon Vsaid 0uuide to ress` said head a ainst the roof of themine, and automatically acting means tending to liftV said base from the mine floor as the pressure upon the roof is re apparatus Vof the 'class described comprising a plurality of wheels adapted to 4L. An

travel over the mine floor, a base supported uponsaid-wheels andadapted to contact means to force said base Vand said member into contact with the floor and roof ofthe 'mine respectively, and means adapted to actuate the wheels to bodily move the app aratus. v

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base adapted to rest upon the floor of the mine, wheels connected to said base and adapted to travel over themine floor, means connected with said wheels andadapted to maintain said base spaced from the mine licor, Ya roof engaging member, means to cause said baseand said member respectively to press against the' floor and roof of the mine, and power operable means adapted to actuate the wheels to bodily move the apparatus. A

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base adapted to rest upon the floor of the mine, wheels connectedto said base and adapted to travel overgthe mine floor, means to maintain said base out of con-V tact with the mine floor, a roof engaging member, power actuated means to cause said base and said member respectively to press against the Lloor and roof of the mine, and means adapted to actuate the wheels to bodily move t-lieapparatus. l A

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base adapted to rest upon the licor of the mine, wheels connected to said base adapted to travel over the mine floor, means arranged to maintain said base spaced from the mine floor, a roof engaging member, hydraulically `actuated means to cause said base Vand said member respectively to press against the Vfloor and roof of the mine, and power operable means adapted to actuate the Wheels to bodily move the apparatus.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame, of journal Vbearings attached to said frame, a pair of parallel axles ournaled in said' bearings, traction wheels attached to said axles, a cylvinder pivotally mounted upon one of said axles, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a pinion rotatively mounted uponthe other of saidaxles, a rack attached to said piston and engagincsaidy pinion, means to reciprocate the piston to cause the rotation of said pinion, -and means automatically acting in one direction to connect said pinion with said axle to cause 'the rotation of said traction wheel in that direction. p y

9. In a system of apparatus of the class described, a plurality of independently movable trucks, devices carriedby each truck to propel it' over the Vmine licor, devices carried by each truck adapted to exert pressure upon the floor and roof of the mine, and power devices carried by one of'said trucks adapted to the actuation of the propulsion devices and the pressure exerting devices of any of g said trucks as and for the purpose set forth.

` described, a plurality of independently move floor of the mine, a roof engaging member,

n floor and to maintain the same in lifted po-V and means adapted to actuate/ thev Vcomprising supporting travel over a mme floor,

able trucks having traction wheels adapted to .travel over the floor of the mine, devices carried by each truck adapted to cause the rotation of said traction wheels to propel the truck, devices carriedby each truck adapted to exert pressure upon the floor and roof of the mine, and power devices carried by one of said trucks adapted to the actuation of the wheel rotatingdevices and the pressureA exerting devices of any of said trucks as and' said` supports adapted topropel the latter,

for the purpose setforth.

11. An apparatus of the class described a base supported by said kwheelsA and adapted to rest upon the power actuated means to cause said .base and said member respectively to press against the floor and roof of the mine, means adapted to lift said base out of contact with the mine sition, wheels to bodily move the apparatus.

12. An apparatus of the class described comprising supporting wheels adapted to travel over a mine floor, a base supported by said wheels and adap-ted to rest upon the floorV y 'the supports, and means for selectively conof the mine, a roof 'engaging member, power actuated means to cause said member respectively to press agalnst the floor`V by each truck adapted to exert pressure upon the floor and roof of the mine, power devices carried by one of said trucks adapted to actu` ate the pressure exertingdevices of any of said trucks, and means for connecting said power devicesrwlth the pressure exerting devices of any of said trucks.

wheels adapted to base and said ports, hydraulic devices on said support adaptedto propel the latter, and means for selectively connecting said generating means with said devices.

17.,The combination with a mining maf chine. and a plurality of movable roof supf ports adjacent said machine, of power genthe latter,

V18.-. The combination of a plurality of roofV supports, power generating means on one of for extending them, and means orselective-v ly connecting said generating means with said translating means.

20. The combination of aplurality of vertically extensible roof supports, hydraulic pressure generating means on one of said supports, anL expanslble chamber on each of said l supports adapted upon expansion to extend' necting said generating means with the chamber of any support.

Y 2l. The combination of a plurality of bodily movable and vertically extensible roof supv pressure generating means on one of said supports, pressure translating devices'on each of said supports for bodily moving or extending them, and means for selectively connecting said generating means and translating devices.

In testimony whereof, he has afixed his signature. i 'i FREDERICK E. VAN sLvKE.

14. The combination withr a mining machine and a plurality of movable roof supports located to the rear of said machine, of means on said machine adapted to be detachably secured to selected ones of said supports for moving said supports toward saidmachine.

supports adapted to move over a mine floor, a

source of motive force on one of said supports,

and means for selectively connecting saidsource to any of said supports for bodily moving the latter. i

16. Apparatus'of the class described, oomprising a plurality of movable roof supports adapted to rest upon a mine floor, a carriage movable adjacent said supports, power generatingmeans on said carriage, translating 

